title: Leakage induced in Escherichia coli cells by A protein-RNA complexes from bacteriophage f2.
abstract: Complexes of f2 phage RNA and its A protein, or maturation protein, transfect Escherichia coli cells much better than does protein-free RNA. We used these complexes to introduce the bacteriophage f2 lysis gene into cells. The A protein-RNA complex was found to kill cells, probably by causing them to leak large macromolecules. Previously induced beta-galactosidase leaked from cells treated either with the A protein-RNA complex or with lethal but noninfectious complexes that had been treated with formaldehyde. This observation was consistent with an earlier finding that formaldehyde-treated f2 RNA stimulates the in vitro synthesis of a lysis protein. The complexes did not stimulate the rate of leakage of beta-galactosidase from a streptomycin-resistant mutant known to be lysis defective. On the other hand, the rate of leakage was increased in a double mutant resistant to both streptomycin and rifampin and which is lysed normally by f2 bacteriophage.
mesh_terms: D001433:Bacteriolysis; D003090:Coliphages / Q000032:analysis*; D004352:Drug Resistance, Microbial; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000201:enzymology; D005557:Formaldehyde / Q000494:pharmacology; D012317:RNA Phages / Q000032:analysis*; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000502:physiology*; D013307:Streptomycin / Q000494:pharmacology; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000502:physiology*; D001616:beta-Galactosidase / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D012367:RNA, Viral; D014764:Viral Proteins; D005557:Formaldehyde; D001616:beta-Galactosidase; D013307:Streptomycin